Effects of a Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Amanda Alves Rabelo, Oliveira JFCE, Júlia Fraga Castro E Oliveira, Rios JR, Janete Rabelo Rios, Yasmim de Souza Nunes, Gabriel Bernardes Yacoub, Yacoub GB, Carolina Alves Corrêa, Corrêa CA, Guilherme Santos da Silva, da Silva GS, A Bedin
Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2026 · vol. 39(5) , pp. e70353 · doi:10.1111/jhn.70353 · PMID:42876029 · PMC13669521 · W7221994251
Systematic review / meta-analysis OA: gold public-domain-us
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A meta-analysis of three studies involving 90 women with endometriosis found that low-FODMAP dietary interventions were associated with improvements in pain, emotional well-being, and other quality-of-life domains.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynaecological disease that significantly impairs quality of life. Dietary strategies such as low-FODMAP diet have been proposed as adjunctive non-pharmacological approaches to symptom management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the association of a low-FODMAP diet on quality-of-life outcomes in women with endometriosis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for randomised and observational studies assessing low-FODMAP dietary interventions in women with endometriosis. Outcomes were evaluated using the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30). Pooled analysis was performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: We included three studies comprising 90 women with a mean age of 34 years. The mean follow-up duration was 3.5 months. The pooled post-intervention mean score was 28.45 for pain (95% CI: 20.88 to 36.02; I² = 61.8%) and 39.33 for control/helplessness (95% CI: 24.92 to 53.73; I² = 81.7%). The corresponding post-intervention mean scores were 31.87 for emotional well-being (95% CI: 27.15 to 36.59; I² = 0%), 38.94 for social support (95% CI: 33.69 to 44.20; I² = 0%), and 43.22 for self-image (95% CI: 35.94 to 50.49; I² = 21.2%). CONCLUSION: A low-FODMAP diet was associated with improvements across multiple quality-of-life domains in women with endometriosis. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution and considered hypothesis-generating, requiring confirmation by larger, well-designed randomised controlled trials.

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MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis FODMAP Diet FODMAP Diet FODMAP Diet FODMAP Diet FODMAP Diet FODMAP Diet FODMAP Diet Quality of Life Quality of Life Quality of Life Quality of Life Quality of Life

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